Seahorses Dominate Channel In Battle of Rockaway

By Elio Velez

Beach Channel’s Donalds Jeoboham (84) brings down Far Rockaway runningback Karl Allwood in the first half of the Seahorses 45-12 win. Photo By Pete BorrielloWith a packed crowd watching from the stands of Beach Channel, the visiting Far Rockaway Seahorses set the tone early in the first quarter of their annual PSAL football battle.

Senior Linebacker Jeremy Pruitt burst through the offensive line and tackled Dolphins runningback Elliott Olivero. The ball was ripped from Olivero’s arms as Pruitt recovered the loose ball and broke away from the arms of Anton Johnson to rumble in the end zone for the first score of the game.

Steven Flake (left) breaks away from the tackle of Beach Channel’s Akeem Moore. Photo By Pete BorrielloIt was downhill from there for the Dolphins as the Seahorses were the aggressors and the better team in a 45-12 demolition victory over their rivals last Saturday afternoon.

If there’s an example of a hot team right now in the PSAL, the Seahorses fit the bill. In their fourth consecutive win to improve to 4-2 overall, the offense scored more than 30 points for the third time in four games.

Dolphins fullback Nathaniel Howard runs past Seahorses safety Ednut Egberongbe for a 35 yard touchdown run. Photo By Pete BorrielloPruitt was the star of the day on both sides of the ball. On defense, he sacked QB Jerel Wilson and Marcel Guilliod three times and rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns on offense.

With monsoon like rain conditions affecting the entire city last week, Pruitt says that his teammates continto practice hard for three hours every day. He know that it’s another sign of prosperity that was earned with a victory.

“We started opening up the holes on defense and started blitzing. We came out and wanted this (win),” Pruitt says. “We were giving it all through practice even in the pouring rain.”

The Dolphins made their only noise of the day with the next series In the second quarter, fullback Nathaniel Howard (167 yards) broke through a wide open hole and rumbled into the end zone on a 35 yard touchdown to make it 8-6.

It would be the only highlight of the day as the Beach Channel’s record fell to 1-5 on the season.

The Seahorses got back on the scoreboard as RB Karl Allwood rushed for 35 of his 167 yards of the day on a touchdown scamper to increase the lead to 16-6.

It isn’t just the veterans that have keyed Far Rockaway’s winning streak. New additions from last year’s JV squad have sparkled as well on the defensive side of the ball. David Lawson picked up two sacks and Steven Flake’s interception of a long Jerel Wilson pass intended for Elliott Olivero in the second quarter set the stage for the last touchdown of the half.

Flake returned the ball to the BC 23 yard line and then scored on the next play with a nifty set of moves on a 23 yard touchdown run to make it 24-6.

“I’ve been feeling better 9about his switch to WR/RB) since day one. I wanted to get a chance (to perform),” Flake says. “We’re just working harder and taking it day by day and game by game.”

The game was firmly in favor of the Seahorses as the Dolphins felt the sting of another loss to their rivals. The defeat was felt by QB Jerel Wislon, as he sat on the sideline with a sprained foot suffered in the second quarter. He would not return to the game. The positives of their 22-20 overtime victory against Jamaica did not carry over against FRHS. BCHS travels to Bayside on Saturday at 11 a.m.

“Their offense is good but we wasn’t ready for them. We thought we could beat them ahead of time,” a downbeat Wilson said after the game. “It’s hard because it’s my last game as a senior at home and I’ll feel that for a while.”

Anthony Miele was again impressed but does not want to go overboard just yet. The last three games will be at home with August Martin at 0-6 this Saturday (Homecoming Day, 1 p.m.), Bayside and Campus Magnet, which will determine the Seahorses’ playoff fate.

“Momentum and turnovers made the difference. When Jeremy made that tackle and recovered the fumble it was big.We look fine but we got to take it to another level now. We can’t do any mistakes or turnovers,” Miele said.

“We know what we’re capable of. We got to get better every week. We can now play with most of the teams in the city. It’s about turnovers and the offensive and defensive line.”